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![]() ![]() Baruchel's Hiccup is the perfect mix of earnest and silly, awkward and sincere. As charming as it is exciting, the story (based on the book by Cressida Crowell) tells the tale of a misfit viking named Hiccup, wonderfully brought to life by Jay Baruchel ( She's Out of My League, This Is the End). How To Train Your Dragon (first in the series of soaring crowd-pleasers) is pretty much a perfect animated family film. Where to watch Gulliver's Travels: Amazon Prime VideoĭreamWorks SKG/Courtesy Everett Collection (And in our book, the town crier's tune, " All's Well," remains one of the great childhood song classics.) Gulliver's Travels is not a perfect film, but perfectly enjoyable to watch with little ones. Enchantingly odd, the princess is like a blonde Snow White, complete with songbirds landing on her fingers. The 1939 Fleischer studios musical gem is fashioned in a sorta-realistic rotoscoped Snow White style (an attempt to compete with Disney's game changer from two years prior). Why is there a never-ending fascination with the story of Lemuel Gulliver, a man who becomes a "giant?" Is it the fish-out-of-water concept, or simply the demonstration of how perspective is everything? Whatever the reason, the many versions of this film (based on the classic book by Jonathan Swift) are legion - Gulliver's been portrayed by everyone from Jack Black to Ted Danson, Richard Harris to Mickey Mouse. Mary Evans/FLEISCHER STUDIOS/Ronald Grant/Everett Related Content: The Goonies cast: Where are they now? ![]() Where to watch The Goonies: Amazon Prime VideoĬast: Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Martha Plimpton, Ke Huy Quan, Jeff Cohen, Joe Pantoliano If you need further proof of The Goonies' eternal charm, check this out: Even now, people are finding cool new ways to celebrate this slice of peak '80s magic. With it's jittery, caffeinated pace, "just scary enough" vibe, mini class warfare plot, and zillions of fun details (you'll be Googling "how to build a zipline" before Cyndi Lauper's theme song finishes), it's the kind of film you'll forbid your kids from watching without you because you want to experience it WITH them. And if it's been a while since you've seen the film, take comfort in the fact that everything holds up, from the rain-smudged, gritty charm of its Oregon setting to the loose, chatty friendship between the gang. Even today, calling yourself a "Goonie" is like a secret password to an all-ages underground clubhouse (the fandom is intense). Related content: Free Willy's Jason James Richterĭespite its big budget credentials (screenplay by Chris Columbus, story by Steven Spielberg, direction by Richard Donner), The Goonies has always felt somehow… indie, like a secret shared between you and your BFFs. Where to watch Free Willy: Amazon Prime VideoĬast: Jason James Richter, Michael Madsen, Lori Petty Not to mention the casting is another stunt in itself… like, how did Michael Madsen, fresh off Reservoir Dogs, end up here? On a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction note, the "whale actor" Keiko has a seriously dramatic life story of his own, filled with a ton of heartbreaking (and heartwarming) ups and downs. Entertaining, heart-warming, and thrilling, it really hits that family entertainment sweet spot. Casting serious doubts on the ethics of aquariums and using sea mammals as entertainment LONG before Blackfish, the story of Willy the orca will have the animal lovers in your house on the edge of their seats. This one takes the "kid saves animal from certain death" trope to its furthest (and largest) extreme. If you've already seen Free Willy, congrats - you're the answer to the "tell us you were an '80s kid without telling us" meme. Where to watch Eloise at the Plaza: Amazon Prime VideoĬast: Julie Andrews, Jeffrey Tambor, Sofia Vassilieva, Christine Baranski Bonus tip for said parents: If you're in the New York City area, you can visit the actual Plaza Hotel (it looks just like the book!) and see portraits of Eloise, plus there's a shop full of dahling little souvenirs. Fun, fun, fun! Besides repeating things three times, Eloise also has an absentee mother who travels 365 days a year, leaving her nanny (Mary Poppins in grandma mode, Julie Andrews) to take charge.Įloise at the Plaza is perfect for the younger set - especially those who tire of their suburban surroundings and long for big city sophistication, total freedom, and a reprieve from their pesky parents. Eloise, if you don't know, was the star of the strangely sophisticated, '50s/'60s-era children's book series about a girl who lives full-time in the fawncy Plaza Hotel, treating it like her own personal playground. If Eloise sprung to life from the pages of her books, you can bet she would look a lot like 10-year-old Sofia Vassilieva's portrayal of the spunky heroine. ![]()
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